Storage battery transfer support device and storage battery transfer support method

ABSTRACT

The present invention serves to reduce the costs associated with the overall life cycle of storage batteries by performing support so that a plurality of batteries are transferred between and used at a plurality of facilities. This storage battery transfer support device comprises: a collection unit that collects battery information representing the status of each battery used at a plurality of facilities; a battery information storage unit that stores the battery information collected by the collection unit; and a deterioration prediction unit that, on the basis of the battery information stored in the battery information storage unit, predicts deterioration of storage batteries that have been transferred between and used at a plurality of facilities.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/352,699filed on Nov. 16, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/363,359 filed on Jun. 6, 2014, which is theNational Phase Entry of International Application No. PCT/JP2012/007776filed on Dec. 4, 2012 which claims priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2011-266774 filed on Dec. 6, 2011. The contents of theseapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a storage battery relocation assistanceapparatus for providing the assistance for relocating and using astorage battery and also to a storage battery relocation assistancemethod for the same.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a large number of electric vehicles running withelectric power from storage batteries, such as HEVs (Hybrid ElectricVehicles), PEVs (Plug-in Electric Vehicles), and EVs (ElectricVehicles), have been utilized. Examples of the storage batteriesmentioned herein include a lithium ion secondary battery and a nickelhydrogen secondary battery.

Electricity storage systems for supplementing electric power supplyusing storage batteries have been put in practical use at, for example,houses, buildings, or factories. In such electricity storage systems,storage batteries are charged with surplus generated electric power orlow cost midnight electric power, while the storage batteries are usedto supply electric power to electric appliances when the amount ofelectric power generation decreases, or during a time period when thecost of a commercial power source is high, or when electric power is inshortage.

Moreover, as an example of the related art of the present invention,Patent Literature 1 discloses a power supply service system that managesthe use state of the battery of a car and the customers and enablessmooth charging and replacing of the battery.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-140398

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

A storage battery used to run a vehicle is subject to very severeconditions, such as repetitive charging and outputting of a highcurrent. In comparison with the use conditions, the use conditions of astorage battery in an electricity storage system in a house, forexample, are moderate.

Conventionally, a storage battery used in a vehicle can be technicallyrecycled when deteriorating and no longer satisfying use conditions.More specifically, the storage battery includes rare materials, so thatdeteriorated storage battery undergoes a decomposing process and is thenutilized as new storage battery materials.

However, since a storage battery in a vehicle is subject to very severecondition, even a storage battery unusable in a vehicle often exertssufficient performance when used in other facilities. Moreover,recycling of a storage battery requires a relatively high cost. For thisreason, there arises a problem in that recycling of a storage batteryusable for other facilities increases a comprehensive cost for a lifecycle from manufacturing to recycling of a storage battery.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage batteryrelocation assistance apparatus that can provide the assistance forrelocating and using a plurality of storage batteries among a pluralityof facilities to contribute to a comprehensive cost reduction for lifecycles of the storage batteries and also to provide a storage batteryrelocation assistance apparatus method that can provide the same.

Solution to Problem

A storage battery relocation assistance apparatus according to an aspectof the present invention includes: a collection section that collectsbattery information representing a state of a plurality of storagebatteries used in a plurality of facilities; a battery informationstoring section that stores the battery information collected by thecollection section; and a deterioration prediction section that predictsdeterioration of the plurality of storage batteries when the pluralityof storage batteries are relocated and used among the plurality offacilities, based on the battery information stored in the batteryinformation storing section.

A storage battery relocation assistance method according to an aspect ofthe present invention includes: collecting battery informationrepresenting a state of a plurality of storage batteries used in aplurality of facilities, through a communication network or a storagemedium;

storing, in a battery information storing section, the batteryinformation collected by the collecting; and predicting, by adeterioration prediction section, deterioration of the plurality ofstorage batteries when the plurality of storage batteries are relocatedand used among the plurality of facilities, based on the batteryinformation stored in the battery information storing section.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, deterioration of a plurality ofstorage batteries relocated and used among a plurality of facilities ispredicted, and thus determining the optimal relocation time andrelocation destination of the storage battery can be assisted based onthe result of prediction of deterioration. Accordingly, it is possibleto make a contribution to a comprehensive cost reduction for the lifecycle of a storage battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a whole storage batteryrecycle system;

FIG. 2 is a data table illustrating an example of in-use batteryinformation stored in an in-use battery information storing section;

FIG. 3 is a data table illustrating an example of deteriorationprediction information stored in an in-use battery deteriorationprediction information storing section;

FIG. 4 is a data table illustrating an example ofuse-destination-information stored in a use-destination-informationstoring section;

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a time variation in the dischargecapacity of the same storage battery charged and discharged repeatedlywith a predetermined current amount;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are graphs illustrating changes in deterioration curvesin the case of relocation use of the storage battery;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example configuration of a storage battery pack;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a storage battery deterioration predictionprocess performed in an in-use battery deterioration prediction section;

FIGS. 9A to 9D, 9M and 9Q are diagrams for describing various relocationmodels of the storage batteries;

FIGS. 10A to 10C are graphs illustrating the deterioration predictioncurves of the storage battery in one relocation model;

FIGS. 11A to 11C are graphs illustrating the deterioration predictioncurves of the storage battery in another relocation model;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a relocation determination process performedin a relocation determination section;

FIG. 13 is a table illustrating example determination requirements forrelocating a storage battery;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams of an example of repackingfor relocating a storage battery;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are explanatory diagrams of an example of repackingfor relocating a storage battery; and

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an example of repacking forrelocating a storage battery.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a whole storage batteryrecycle system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The storage battery recycle system in this embodiment includes storagebattery relocation assistance server 1, a plurality of vehicles 100, aplurality of houses 200, a plurality of buildings 300, a plurality offactories 400, collected-battery warehouse 500, and network 600 utilizedfor data transmission. In FIG. 1, one each of the plurality of vehicles100, houses 200, buildings 300 and factories 400 is illustrated by onerepresentative element.

In these configurations, storage battery relocation assistance server 1corresponds to an embodiment of the storage battery relocationassistance apparatus according to the present invention, and vehicle100, house 200, building 300, and factory 400 correspond to anembodiment of a plurality of facilities using a storage battery.

Configuration of Storage Battery Relocation Assistance Server

Storage battery relocation assistance server 1 is a computer including,for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as an arithmetic unit, aRAM (Random Access Memory) and a hard disk as storing section 20, acommunication apparatus, a display or a printer as an information outputsection, and an input apparatus for inputting an operational commandfrom an operator.

In storage battery relocation assistance server 1, a software moduleread from the hard disk is expanded on the RAM and is executed by theCPU to implement a plurality of functional modules. More specifically,storage battery relocation assistance server 1 includes, as theplurality of functional modules, in-use battery state collection section11, in-use battery deterioration prediction section 12, input section 13for inputting information on use destinations, relocation determinationsection 14, reporting section 15, collected-battery deteriorationprediction section 16, and collected-battery state collection section17.

Storing section 20 in storage battery relocation assistance server 1includes in-use battery information storing section 21, in-use batterydeterioration prediction information storing section 22,use-destination-information storing section 23, unused-batterydeterioration prediction information storing section 24,collected-battery deterioration prediction information storing section25, and collected-battery information storing section 26.

This plurality of storing sections 21 to 26 stores and managespredetermined information according to predetermined formats. In-usebattery information storing section 21 corresponds to an embodiment ofthe battery information management section according to the presentinvention, and use-destination-information storing section 23corresponds to an embodiment of the requirement information managementsection according to the present invention.

In-use battery state collection section 11 collects information(referred to as battery information) representing a state of a pluralityof storage batteries used in the plurality of vehicles 100, theplurality of houses 200, the plurality of buildings 300, and theplurality of factories 400, and stores the information in in-use batteryinformation storing section 21. The battery information is collectedalways or periodically. In-use battery state collection section 11 iscapable of exchanging data with the communication sections of theplurality of vehicles 100, the plurality of houses 200, the plurality ofbuildings 300, and the plurality of factories 400 through acommunication apparatus connected to network 600. The collected in-usebattery information will be described below in detail.

In-use battery deterioration prediction section 12 predicts futuredeterioration of each storage battery on the basis of the batteryinformation on an in-use storage battery, and stores this predictionresult (referred to as deterioration prediction information) in in-usebattery deterioration prediction information storing section 22. Thisdeterioration prediction information will be described below in detail.

Input section 13 receives information, which is inputted by an operatoraccording to a predetermined input format through the input apparatus,on each facility (referred to as use-destination-information) of theplurality of vehicles 100, the plurality of houses 200, the plurality ofbuildings 300, and the plurality of factories 400. Input section 13 thenstores the inputted use-destination-information inuse-destination-information storing section 23. The content of thisuse-destination-information will be described below.

Collected-battery state collection section 17 collects informationrepresenting a state of a plurality of storage batteries kept incollected-battery warehouse 500, and stores the information incollected-battery information storing section 26. Collected-batterystate collection section 17 is capable of exchanging data with acommunication section of collected-battery warehouse 500 through acommunication apparatus connected to network 600. The collectedinformation in this case is almost the same as information collected byin-use battery state collection section 11.

Collected-battery deterioration prediction section 16 predicts futuredeterioration of the plurality of storage batteries kept incollected-battery warehouse 500, and stores information on theprediction result in collected-battery deterioration predictioninformation storing section 25. The details of this deteriorationprediction will be described later as a supplement for prediction ofdeterioration of an in-use storage battery.

Unused-battery deterioration prediction information storing section 24is a storing section for beforehand storing, as deterioration predictioninformation, information on the future deterioration property of anunused storage battery that is kept while being unused.

Relocation determination section 14 reads, from storing section 20, thedeterioration prediction information on an in-use storage battery, thedeterioration prediction information on an unused storage battery, thedeterioration prediction information on a collected storage battery, andthe use-destination-information on each facility. Based on theabove-described deterioration prediction information and information onpredetermined relocation requirements for a storage battery, relocationdetermination section 14 then performs an optimization process anddetermines the optimal relocation time and relocation destination ofeach storage battery.

That is, relocation determination section 14 determines the optimalrelocation schedule for each storage battery.

Reporting section 15 extracts, for example, a relocation scheduleinvolving relocation time close to the present time from among theoptimal relocation schedules for respective storage batteries determinedin relocation determination section 14, and lists these informationitems on the display or on a printout. Based on these information items,an operator sets the schedule for relocation exchange for storagebatteries in the plurality of vehicle 100, the plurality of house 200,the plurality of building 300, the plurality of factory 400, andcollected-battery warehouse 500, and advances a procedure of relocationof the storage batteries. That is, the operator and a worker, forexample, report to a contractor, an exchange of a storage battery, andthen perform exchange maintenance of a storage battery on the basis ofthe schedule for a relocation exchange.

Configuration of Facility Using or Keeping Storage Battery

Vehicle 100 includes storage battery B, charger 101, battery controlsection 102, in-vehicle communication section 103, and socket 104.Storage battery B supplies electric power to a running motor (notillustrated) of vehicle 100 to drive the vehicle. Socket 104 isconnected to external cable 211 for the input of an external powersource and transmission and reception of data. Charger 101 chargesstorage battery B with the external power source inputted from socket104.

Battery control section 102 controls necessary electric power suppliedto the running motor from storage battery B. Battery control section 102measures and monitors, for example, the voltage, input and outputcurrents, a temperature, a state of charge (SOC), and a deteriorationstate (SOH: State Of Health) of storage battery B, and transmits theseinformation items to storage battery relocation assistance server 1through in-vehicle communication section 103. If cable 211 serving as acommunication path is connected to socket 104, in-vehicle communicationsection 103 performs data communication through cable 211. Otherwise,in-vehicle communication section 103 is connected to network 600 throughradio communication and performs data communication.

Here, the state of charge (SOC) is the ratio of a residual capacity to afully charged capacity, and the deterioration state (SOH: State OfHealth) is a value representing a state of deterioration of a storagebattery calculated from the internal resistance value of the storagebattery.

House 200 includes, for example, storage battery B, battery controlsection 201, electric load 202, and in-house communication section 203.For example, storage battery B is charged with electric power from acommercial power source (also referred to as a common power source) inthe time zone when an electricity price is low, and supplies electricpower to electric load 202 in the time zone when the electricity priceis high or when electricity is deficient. Electric load 202 is one ofvarious kinds of electric appliances used in house 200. Battery controlsection 201 measures and monitors, for example, the voltage, input andoutput currents, a temperature, a state of charge (SOC), and a state ofhealth (SOH) of storage battery B, and transmits these information itemsto storage battery relocation assistance server 1 through in-housecommunication section 203. In-house communication section 203 can beconnected to network 600 to perform data communication.

Each of building 300 and factory 400 also includes storage battery B, abattery control section, an electric load, and a communication sectionsimilarly to house 200.

When relocation use (also referred to as reuse) of storage batteries Bis performed between the facilities which are vehicle 100, house 200,building 300, and factory 400, collected-battery warehouse 500 is afacility for keeping storage batteries B temporarily collected from anyof the facilities.

Collected-battery warehouse 500 includes collected storage battery B,battery management section 501, and communication section 502.

Battery management section 501 controls storage battery B so as to bemaintained in an appropriate state of charge, or control storage batteryB so as to appropriately charge and discharge, in order to delay theprogression degree of deterioration of storage battery B. Batterycontrol section 501 measures the voltage, input and output currents, atemperature, a state of charge (SOC), and a state of health (SOH) ofstorage battery B, and transmits the measurement result to storagebattery relocation assistance server 1 through communication section502.

In-Use Battery Information

FIG. 2 is a data table illustrating an example content of the in-usebattery information stored in in-use battery information storing section21.

In-use battery information storing section 21 stores a plurality ofrespective information items representing states of a plurality ofstorage batteries used in the plurality of facilities. To theseinformation items, the information collected by in-use battery statecollection section 11 is sequentially added.

The in-use battery information stored in in-use battery informationstoring section 21 includes, for example, a model number, a present useplace, the history of past use places, an initial capacity, a voltagelog, a current log, a temperature log, a state of charge (SOC), a stateof health (SOH), and charge/discharge allowable electric power (alsoreferred to as an SOP: State Of Power (prediction electric powerability)). These information items are independently stored for all theregistered storage batteries. Information on the voltage log, thecurrent log, and the temperature log is stored as the series of datarepresenting the voltage, current, and a temperature at a plurality oftime points (ti), respectively. Information on the state of charge, thestate of health, and charge/discharge allowable electric power is alsostored as the series of data representing the respective values at aplurality of time points.

Here, the charge/discharge allowable electric power (SOP) represents themaximum charge electric power and the maximum electric dischargeelectric power estimated from, for example, the voltage and the internalresistance of the storage battery.

In-use battery state collection section 11 collects, from each facility,respective information items on the voltage log, the current log, thetemperature log, the state of charge (SOC), the deterioration state(SOH), and the charge/discharge allowable electric power (SOP) among theitems in the data table of FIG. 2. In-use battery state collectionsection 11 then adds the collected information items to the in-usebattery information items and stores the resultant information items.

Collected-battery information storing section 26 also stores respectivecollected-battery information items including the items in the datatable of FIG. 2. Collected-battery state collection section 17 collects,from collected-battery warehouse 500, respective information items onthe voltage log, the current log, the temperature log, the state ofcharge (SOC), the deterioration state (SOH), and the charge/dischargeallowable electric power (SOP). Collected-battery state collectionsection 17 then adds the collected information items to thecollected-battery information items and stores the resultant informationitems in collected-battery information storing section 26.

Deterioration Prediction Information

FIG. 3 is a data table illustrating an example of the deteriorationprediction information stored in in-use battery deterioration predictioninformation storing section 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in-use battery deterioration predictioninformation storing section 22 stores a plurality of pieces ofcurvilinear data of deterioration states predicted according to variousrelocation models for each storage battery.

The relocation model is a model representing at which time and to whichfacility a target storage battery is relocated. The relocation modelwill be described below in detail. As illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9D, 9Mand 9Q, various relocation models are set so as to include variousrelocation patterns possible for relocation of storage batteries inreality.

The curvilinear data of deterioration states will be described below indetail. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the curvilinear data is datarepresenting a time variation in a deterioration state (referred to asSOH or “the residual capacity of a battery”).

Use-Destination-Information

FIG. 4 is a data table illustrating an example of theuse-destination-information stored in use-destination-informationstoring section 23.

The use-destination-information includes, as information representingeach facility, use destination data for identifying the facility,contractor data for identifying a contractor, and use destinationcategory data for representing the category (for example, a vehicle, ahouse, a building, and a factory) of the facility, for example. Theuse-destination-information includes, as requirement information to thestorage battery, information on contract electric power demandrepresenting the maximum electric power which can be supplied from thestorage battery, information on a contract battery capacity representingthe minimum capacity of the storage battery, and information on aninstallation space for installing the storage battery, for example.

Use-destination-information storing section 23 stores theabove-described use-destination-information for all facilities receivingservice of the supply of the storage batteries.

When a contractor is added, information representing the facility of thecontractor is inputted from input section 13, anduse-destination-information concerning the new contractor is added touse-destination-information storing section 23.

Relationship between Relocation Use and Deterioration Curve

Here, the action and the advantageous effects of the relocated and usedstorage battery will be explained.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a time variation in the dischargecapacity of the same storage battery charged and discharged repeatedlywith a predetermined current amount.

Respective three graph lines in FIG. 5 indicate the cases of high,middle, and low charge/discharge currents.

As illustrated in the graph of FIG. 5, the storage battery deterioratesand gradually decreases the discharge capacity (also referred to as abattery capacity) by repeating charge and discharge. The magnitude of acharge/discharge current for the storage battery, i.e., the severity ofuse of the storage battery also varies the rate of deteriorating thestorage battery. For example, a higher charge/discharge currentincreases the rate of the deterioration, and a lower charge/dischargecurrent decreases the rate of the deterioration.

The graph line for the high charge/discharge current in FIG. 5 indicatesan example case used for a vehicle. Storage battery B of vehicle 100outputs a large current in the case of running, and rapidly charges inthe case of charging. Therefore, the use conditions for the storagebattery in vehicle 100 are very severe in comparison with the otherfacilities. Moreover, since vehicle 100 is required to have a highstorage battery performance, the storage battery performance reaches thelower limit of the required performance of vehicle 100 at a stage atwhich the deterioration degree of the storage battery does not progressso much.

The graph line for the middle charge/discharge current in FIG. 5indicates an example case used for a house. Storage battery B in house200 or building 300 charges and discharges relatively moderately.Furthermore, in house 200 or building 300, the installation space forstorage battery B is large in comparison with vehicle 100, and manystorage batteries can be used in parallel. Therefore, in house 200 orbuilding 300, the use conditions required for storage battery B aremoderate in comparison with vehicle 100. Moreover, since the useconditions are moderate, the storage battery performance required forhouse 200 or building 300 is low in comparison with that for vehicle100.

The graph line for the low charge/discharge current in FIG. 5 indicatesan example case used for a factory. In factory 400, storage battery Bcharges and discharges in a further planned and stable manner. Moreover,in factory 400, the installation space for storage battery B is furtherlarge in comparison with house 200 and building 300, and an enormousnumber of storage batteries can be used in parallel. Therefore, the useconditions for storage battery B in factory 400 are moderate incomparison with the use conditions for house 200 and building 300.Moreover, since the use conditions are moderate, the storage batteryperformance required for factory 400 is low in comparison with those forhouse 200 and building 300.

Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 5 in many cases, the progressiondegree of deterioration is large in the storage battery used in vehicle100, and decreases in the storage batteries used in house 200 (orbuilding 300) and factory 400 in this order.

Even if vehicles 100 are of the same type, respective vehicles 100involve different progression degrees of deterioration since, forexample, users use vehicles 100 at different frequencies. In the otherfacilities, the progression degrees of deterioration also differ in therespective facilities similarly.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the storage batteryperformance required for each application is the highest in vehicle 100,and decreases in the order of house 200 (or building 300) and factory400.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are graphs illustrating changes in deterioration curvesin the case of relocation use of the storage battery. FIGS. 6A to 6Cillustrate deterioration curves of storage batteries when a storagebattery used for a certain period in a vehicle continues being used inthe vehicle and when the storage battery used for the certain period isrelocated to and used in a house or a factory, as an example.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the deterioration curve of a storagebattery variously changes depending on to which facility the storagebattery is relocated for use and depending on when the storage batteryis relocated. Moreover, assuming that the time point of the storagebattery performance reaching the lower limit of the performance requiredfor each facility is defined as a storage battery life, as can be seenfrom comparison in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the relocation use of a storagebattery can lead to a longer storage battery life of the storagebattery.

Configuration of Storage Battery

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating the details of storagebattery B.

Storage battery B as an object to be provided in a system of the presentembodiment is composed of, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery.Storage battery B is provided by being packaged in a form of batterypack BP which can readily be mounted on each facility. Moreover, batterypack BP includes a plurality of battery modules BM bundled in order toprovide predetermined output and capacity. Moreover, each battery moduleBM has a plurality of battery cells BC mounted therein.

The collection and management of the battery information and therelocation use of the storage battery described above can be performedin units of battery packs BP, and also in units of battery modules BM orin units of battery cells BC.

Deterioration Prediction Process on Storage Battery

Next, a storage battery deterioration prediction process performed byin-use battery deterioration prediction section 12 will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of the storage batterydeterioration prediction process. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagramillustrating the various relocation models subject to deteriorationprediction. FIGS. 10A to 10C are graphs illustrating the outline of thedeterioration prediction curves of the storage battery in one relocationmodel. FIGS. 11A to 11C are graphs illustrating the outline of thedeterioration prediction curves of the storage battery in anotherrelocation model.

For example, at a time when an execution instruction is inputted from anoperator, or at predetermined time intervals, in-use batterydeterioration prediction section 12 starts this storage batterydeterioration prediction process. If the process starts, in-use batterydeterioration prediction section 12 first reads in-use batteryinformation from the in-use battery information storing section in stepS11.

Next, in step S12, in-use battery deterioration prediction section 12sequentially selectively sets one relocation model for relocating astorage battery in the plurality of facilities from among the variousrelocation models.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9D, 9M and 9Q, the various relocationmodels include a plurality of relocation patterns in which a storagebattery is first used for vehicle 100 having severe use conditions andis then relocated to house 200, building 300, or factory 400 in order ofthe gradually loosened use conditions. As illustrated in FIGS. 9B to 9D,the various relocation models also include relocation patterns involvingthe skip of one or more of house 200, building 300, and factory 400.

Moreover, the various relocation models also include patterns based onchanging storage battery relocation time. For example, the relocationmodels in FIGS. 9A to 9M have patterns in which a storage battery isrelocated when the storage battery performance reaches the lower limitof the required performance for the facility using the storage battery.On the other hand, the relocation model in FIG. 9Q has a pattern inwhich a storage battery is relocated a little earlier (for example, astorage battery is relocated when the storage battery performancereaches a higher level by a predetermined amount than the lower limit ofthe required performance).

Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 9D and 9M, the various relocationmodels also include patterns in which a relocation destination is set toanother house 200, another building 300, or another factory 400 in thesame category. Even in a facility in the same category (for example,house), a storage battery is severely utilized in some place and lessseverely utilized in another place, and the progression degree ofdeterioration is not necessarily the same. In consideration of this, therelocation model in FIG. 9M involves relocation destinations changedindependently.

In the case of an enormous number of facilities, if relocation modelsfor relocating storage batteries are prepared for all the facilities,the number of relocation models increases significantly. Therefore, inthe case of an enormous number of facilities, in the same facilitycategory, a facility model may be prepared so as to have a standardprogression degree of deterioration, a plurality of facility models maybe prepared so as to have progression degrees of deterioration shiftedfrom the standard degree at a plurality of levels, and these facilitymodels may be combined to thereby prepare relocation models.

Next, in step S13, in-use battery deterioration prediction section 12predicts deterioration of the storage battery according to therelocation model set in step S12. For example, the graphs in FIGS. 10Ato 10C illustrate the case of a relocation model in which a storagebattery used in vehicle 100 is used down to the lower limit of therequired performance in each facility and is sequentially relocated tohouse 200 and then factory 400.

In this case, in-use battery deterioration prediction section 12predicts the deterioration prediction curve in vehicle 100 in FIG. 10A,for example, from the time transition data of the deterioration state(SOH) in the in-use battery information. Alternatively, in-use batterydeterioration prediction section 12 can calculate a deteriorationprediction curve from the data of the voltage log, the current log, andthe temperature log in the in-use battery information, assuming that thesame use situation continues.

In-use battery deterioration prediction section 12 also calculates thedeterioration prediction curve in house 200 in FIG. 10B, on the basis ofthe in-use battery information on another storage battery used in house200. That is, a deterioration prediction curve is calculated from thedata of the time transition data of the deterioration state (SOH) or thevoltage log, the current log, and the temperature log included in thein-use battery information, assuming that the storage battery is used inthe same situation.

Furthermore, in-use battery deterioration prediction section 12similarly calculates the deterioration prediction curve of factory 400in FIG. 10C, on the basis of the in-use battery information on anotherstorage battery used in factory 400.

Next, another example of a deterioration prediction step will beexplained. The graphs of FIGS. 11A to 11C illustrate the case of arelocation model for sequentially relocating a storage battery presentlyused in vehicle 100 to house 200 and factory 400 in a stage involving ahigher level by 10% than the lower limit of the required performance ineach facility.

In this relocation model, in-use battery deterioration predictionsection 12 calculates a deterioration prediction curve by setting therelocation time for a storage battery to the time when the storagebattery performance reaches a higher value by a predetermined ratio thanthe lower limit of the required performance of each facility. In-usebattery deterioration prediction section 12 also summarizes andcalculates prediction of the progression degree of deterioration in eachfacility on the basis of the in-use battery information also in thisrelocation model similarly to the case of the relocation model in FIG.10.

In-use battery deterioration prediction section 12 may also read theuse-destination-information from use-destination-information storingsection 23 to acquire information on the storage battery requiredperformance in each facility.

Through such deterioration prediction, in-use battery deteriorationprediction section 12 obtains the deterioration prediction curve of thestorage battery for one relocation model, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A to10C or 11A to 11C.

Next, in step S14, in-use battery deterioration prediction section 12accumulates the prediction result data representing the deteriorationprediction curve obtained in step S13, into in-use battery deteriorationprediction information storing section 22.

Through a process loop of steps S12 to S15, in-use battery deteriorationprediction section 12 then repeats the deterioration prediction andaccumulation of the prediction result data for all the relocationpatterns. Through a process loop of steps S 11 to S16, in-use batterydeterioration prediction section 12 also repeats the deteriorationprediction and accumulation of the prediction result data for all thestorage batteries.

Through such a storage battery deterioration prediction process, asillustrated in FIG. 3, in-use battery deterioration predictioninformation storing section 22 accumulates therein the data of thedeterioration curve in the case of the relocation use in the variousrelocation models for each storage battery.

Deterioration Prediction of Collected Battery

Collected-battery deterioration prediction section 16 predictsdeterioration of the plurality of storage batteries B that would occurif they are continued to be kept in the collected-battery warehouse, andstores the data of the predicted deterioration curve incollected-battery deterioration prediction information storing section25.

This deterioration curve can be predicted and calculated from the timetransition data of the deterioration state (SOH) or the data of thevoltage log, the current log, and the temperature log stored incollected-battery information storing section 26, assuming that thedeterioration progresses in the same situation.

Additionally, collected-battery deterioration prediction section 16 mayalso predict deterioration of a collected battery used by relocation,for example, to the house, the building, or the factory similarly toin-use battery deterioration prediction section 12, and may store thedeterioration curve in collected-battery deterioration predictioninformation storing section 25.

Relocation Determination Process

Next, a relocation determination process performed by relocationdetermination section 14 will be described.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of the relocationdetermination process.

FIG. 13 is a table illustrating determination requirements forrelocating a storage battery.

Relocation determination section 14 starts this relocation determinationprocess in response to an instruction from an operator or atpredetermined time interval. If the process is started, relocationdetermination section 14 first reads, in step S21, the data of predicteddeterioration curve (also referred to as “deterioration predictioninformation”) of each storage battery from in-use battery deteriorationprediction information storing section 22, unused-battery deteriorationprediction information storing section 24, and collected-batterydeterioration prediction information storing section 25.

Next, in step S22, relocation determination section 14 readsuse-destination-information from use-destination-information storingsection 23.

Then, in step S23, relocation determination section 14 determines thecombination of the optimal relocation time and relocation destination(referred to as “relocation schedule”) for each storage battery on thebasis of the read data, by performing a calculation process (forexample, optimization process) for comprehensively improving thesufficiency level of a plurality of predetermined determinationrequirements.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the determination requirements for relocatingstorage batteries include, for example, a requirement of maintaining thecontract electric power demand in each use destination, a requirement ofmaintaining the contract battery capacity in each use destination, and arequirement of setting relocation time in a way that makes therelocation time close to a time when the storage battery performancecomes near the lower limit of the required performance in each facility.Moreover, the determination requirements include, for example, arequirement of decreasing the number of new storage batteries to besupplied, a requirement of reducing a variation in the deteriorationdegrees of storage batteries simultaneously used in each facility, and arequirement of decreasing the reserved quantity of collected batteries.Moreover, the determination requirements include a requirement ofincreasing the usage rate of the installation space for storagebatteries in each facility.

The respective determination requirements are assigned with weightingfactors λ1, λ2, . . . In step S23, relocation determination section 14performs a calculation process so as to better satisfy a requirementhaving a larger weighting factor, and determines the relocation schedulefor each storage battery.

Through such a relocation determination step, for example, when thestorage battery of certain house 200 approaches the lower limit of therequired performance, the optimal storage battery which can be relocatedfrom vehicle 100 to this house 200 is extracted to display thisinformation on the relocation schedule. Similarly, when the storagebattery of certain factory 400 approaches the lower limit of therequired performance, the optimal storage battery which can be relocatedfrom the plurality of vehicles 100, houses 200, or buildings 300 to thisfactory 400 is extracted to display this information on the relocationschedule. Moreover, when abnormality or a sign of failure is found inseveral storage batteries in a certain facility, informationrepresenting that the several storage batteries need to be replaced isdisplayed on the relocation schedule.

Moreover, through the above-mentioned relocation determination step, thecalculation process for comprehensively improving the sufficiency levelof each determination requirement calculates a relocation schedule forstorage batteries, the relocation schedule surely satisfying arequirement of maintaining the contract electric power demand in eachuse destination and a requirement of maintaining the contract batterycapacity in each use destination. Moreover, the relocation schedule foreach storage battery is calculated to set relocation time in a way thatmakes the relocation time as close as possible to a time when a storagebattery comes near the lower limit of the required performance in eachfacility and so as to minimize the number of new storage batteries to besupplied. Moreover, the relocation schedule is calculated so as tominimize a variation in the deterioration degrees of storage batteriessimultaneously used in each facility and so as to minimize the reservedquantity of collected batteries. Moreover, the relocation schedule iscalculated so as to relocate many progressively deteriorated storagebatteries to a facility having a large installation space to increasethe usage rate of the large installation space. The relocation scheduleis calculated according to other determination requirements that are setvariously.

Next, in step S24, relocation determination section 14 distinguishes arelocation schedule involving relocation time close to the present time(for example, within one month from the present time) from among thedetermined relocation schedules. Then, if relocation determinationsection 14 finds a relocation schedule close to the present time,relocation determination section 14 outputs information on therelocation schedule to reporting section 15, in step S25. Thereby, theinformation on the relocation schedule is reported from reportingsection 15 to an operator.

Through such a relocation determination process, the optimizedrelocation schedule, which can better satisfy the determinationrequirements for relocation, for the storage battery is determined todisplay information on this relocation schedule for an operator. Basedon the information on this relocation schedule, an operator sets theschedule for relocation exchange for storage batteries in the pluralityof vehicle 100, the plurality of house 200, the plurality of building300, the plurality of factories 400, and collected-battery warehouse 500in reality, and can advance a procedure of relocation of the storagebatteries. That is, the operator and a worker, for example, report anexchange of a storage battery and perform exchange maintenance of astorage battery for a contractor according to the schedule for arelocation exchange.

Variation of Relocation Use of Storage Battery

FIGS. 14A to 16 are explanatory diagrams of an example of repacking forrelocating a storage battery.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, instead of relocation of a storagebattery, battery pack BP1, without modification, the storage battery maybe relocated after repacking battery pack BP1 into other battery packsBP2 and BP3 according to conditions of a relocation destination or thebattery state in battery pack BP1. Alternatively, a storage battery maybe relocated in units of battery modules BM1.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 15, a storage battery may berelocated after such repacking that the deterioration degrees of aplurality of battery modules BMa and BMb in battery packs BP2 and BP3are uniform. Then, battery packs BP2 a and BP3 a repacked so as to haveuniform deterioration degrees may also be relocated.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 16, when only one or more batterycells BC1 in battery module BM1 have deteriorated significantly, astorage battery may be relocated after replacing this battery cell BC1with battery cell BC2 deteriorated in a similar degree to the othercells. Then, battery module BM1 a partially replaced may be relocated.

In the above-described relocation determination process, relocationdetermination section 14 can also determine a relocation schedule inunits of battery modules BM or in units of battery cells BC to therebydisplay information on combination for repacking battery packs andinformation on combination for uniforming non-uniform deteriorationdegrees.

Advantageous Effects of Embodiment

As described above, according to storage battery relocation assistanceserver 1 and the storage battery recycle system in this embodiment, thein-use battery information representing the states of the plurality ofstorage batteries used in the plurality of facilities is collected instorage battery relocation assistance server 1. Furthermore, in-usebattery deterioration prediction section 12 in storage batteryrelocation assistance server 1 predicts deterioration of storagebatteries in the case of relocating the storage batteries in theplurality of facilities, on the basis of these information items.Therefore, this deterioration prediction result can assist determinationof the optimal relocation time and relocation destination of a storagebattery.

According to storage battery relocation assistance server 1 in thisembodiment, relocation determination section 14 determines thecombination of the optimal relocation time and relocation destinationfor each storage battery, on the basis of the deterioration predictionresult in the case of relocating each storage battery among theplurality of facilities and the use-destination-information. Storagebattery relocation assistance server 1 then outputs information on therelocation schedule of the determination result to the exterior.Therefore, on the basis of the information on this relocation schedule,an operator or a worker can set the schedule for relocating storagebatteries in reality among the plurality of facilities and can cause theplurality of storage batteries to be relocated and used in the pluralityof facilities. This can contribute to a comprehensive cost reduction forthe life cycle from manufacturing to recycling of a storage battery.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described thus far.

The above-described embodiment has been described in an example casewhere in-use battery state collection section 11 collects batteryinformation through communication network 600. However, the batteryinformation may also be collected after a delay of one week to severalmonths, instead of real-time collecting of the battery information.Therefore, for example, the battery information may be accumulated inthe facility during a predetermined period, and in-use battery statecollection section 11 may collect this battery information through astorage medium, such as a record disk, a memory card, or a USB(Universal Serial Bus) memory. Specifically, the storage medium havingbattery information written in the facility may be sent to the managerof storage battery relocation assistance server 1, and the manager mayread battery information from this storage medium to send the batteryinformation to in-use battery state collection section 11.

The embodiment has been described above with an example which involvesone kind of storage battery, i.e., a lithium ion secondary battery.However, storage battery relocation assistance server 1 may handle aplurality of kinds of storage batteries (for example, a lithium ionsecondary battery and a nickel hydrogen secondary battery). Storagebattery relocation assistance server 1 then performs a relocationschedule for relocating, to a facility using a first kind of storagebattery, and using a second kind of storage battery.

The embodiment has been described using specific examples for thecontents of the in-use battery information, use-destination-information,and the determination requirement for relocation. However, the in-usebattery information, the use-destination-information, and thedetermination requirement for relocation are not limited to the contentsdescribed in the embodiment. The relocation model which is set forpredicting deterioration of a storage battery can also be modifiedappropriately by, for example, adding a relocation model having acollection period in midstream.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-266774, filed onDec. 6, 2011, including the specification, drawings and abstract, isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be utilized for the storage batterycomprehensive management service for relocating and using a storagebattery among the plurality of facilities.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 Storage battery relocation assistance server-   11 In-use battery state collection section-   12 In-use battery deterioration prediction section-   13 Input section-   14 Relocation determination section-   15 Reporting section-   16 Collected-battery deterioration prediction section-   17 Collected-battery state collection section-   20 Storing section-   21 In-use battery information storing section-   22 In-use battery deterioration prediction information storing    section-   23 Use-destination-information storing section-   24 Unused-battery deterioration prediction information storing    section-   25 Collected-battery deterioration prediction information storing    section-   26 Collected-battery information storing section-   100 Vehicle-   200 House-   300 Building-   400 Factory-   500 Collected-battery warehouse-   600 Network-   B Storage battery-   BP Battery pack-   BM Battery module-   BC Battery cell

1. A storage battery relocation assistance apparatus comprising: aprocessor and memory, the processor comprising: a collection sectionthat collects battery information representing a state of a plurality ofstorage batteries used in a plurality of facilities; and a deteriorationprediction section that predicts deterioration of the plurality ofstorage batteries when the plurality of storage batteries are relocatedand used among the plurality of facilities, based on the batteryinformation collected by the collection section.
 2. The storage batteryrelocation assistance apparatus according to claim 1, the processorfurther comprising a relocation determination section that determines arelocation schedule including at least a relocation destination when theplurality of storage batteries are relocated and used in the pluralityof facilities, based on a prediction result of the deteriorationprediction section and requirement information for a storage battery inthe plurality of facilities.
 3. The storage battery relocationassistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality offacilities include a plurality of vehicles each of which runs withelectric power from a storage battery, a plurality of residentialfacilities in each of which an appliance is operated with electric powerfrom a storage battery, and a plurality of factory facilities in each ofwhich an industrial appliance is operated with electric power from astorage battery; and the deterioration prediction section predictsdeterioration of the plurality of storage batteries according to arelocation pattern for first using each of the plurality of storagebatteries in any of the plurality of vehicles and then relocating theeach of the plurality of storage batteries to another facility.
 4. Thestorage battery relocation assistance apparatus according to claim 2,wherein: the plurality of facilities include a plurality of vehicleseach of which runs with electric power from a storage battery, aplurality of residential facilities in each of which an appliance isoperated with electric power from a storage battery, and a plurality offactory facilities in each of which an industrial appliance is operatedwith electric power from a storage battery; and the relocationdetermination section determines the relocation schedule according to arelocation pattern for first using each of the plurality of storagebatteries in any of the plurality of vehicles and then relocating theeach of the plurality of storage batteries to another facility.
 5. Thestorage battery relocation assistance apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the plurality of storage batteries include one of or both a newstorage battery to be newly supplied and a collected secondhand storagebattery.
 6. The storage battery relocation assistance apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the relocation determination sectiondetermines the relocation schedule by performing a calculation processfor comprehensively improving requirement sufficiency levels of aplurality of determination requirements representing relocationconditions for a storage battery.
 7. The storage battery relocationassistance apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the relocationschedule further includes relocation time; and the plurality ofdetermination requirements include a requirement of setting therelocation time in a way that makes the relocation time close to a timewhen performance of a storage battery used in each of the facilitiesreaches near a lower limit of performance required for the facility. 8.The storage battery relocation assistance apparatus according to claim6, wherein the plurality of determination requirements include arequirement of relocating, before an electric power supply amount from astorage battery required for each of the facilities is no longermaintained, another storage battery to each of the facilities formaintaining the required electric power supply amount.
 9. The storagebattery relocation assistance apparatus according to claim 6, whereinthe plurality of determination requirements include a requirement ofreducing a variation in deterioration degrees of a plurality of storagebatteries used in one of the facilities.
 10. The storage batteryrelocation assistance apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: therequirement information includes information on an installation spacefor a storage battery in each of the facilities; and the plurality ofdetermination requirements include a requirement of increasing a usagerate of the installation space for a storage battery in each of thefacilities.
 11. The storage battery relocation assistance apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein: the plurality of storage batteriesinclude a new storage battery to be newly supplied; and the plurality ofdetermination requirements include a requirement of reducing frequencyof supplying the new storage battery in the facilities other than avehicle.
 12. The storage battery relocation assistance apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein: the deterioration prediction sectionpredicts deterioration of each of the plurality of storage batterieswhen the each of the plurality of storage batteries is relocated in aplurality of relocation patterns among the plurality of facilities; andthe relocation determination section determines the relocation schedulewith reference to results of deterioration prediction for relocation inthe plurality of relocation patterns.
 13. The storage battery relocationassistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the batteryinformation includes log information on a voltage when each of theplurality of storage batteries is charged and discharged, loginformation on a current when each of the plurality of storage batteriesis charged and discharged, log information on each temperature of theplurality of storage batteries, log information on each state of chargeof the plurality of storage batteries, log information on eachdeterioration state of the plurality of storage batteries, or loginformation on charge and discharge allowable electric power of each ofthe plurality of storage batteries.
 14. The storage battery relocationassistance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the requirementinformation includes information on supply electric power from a storagebattery promised to a user of each of the facilities, information on acapacity of a storage battery promised to the user of each of thefacilities, and information on an installation space for a storagebattery in each of the facilities.
 15. The storage battery relocationassistance apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the relocationdetermination section determines the relocation schedule, based on theinformation on the installation space with an assumption that a largerinstallation space allows relocation of a larger number of progressivelydeteriorated storage batteries.
 16. The storage battery relocationassistance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predicting ofdeterioration by the deterioration prediction section and thedetermining of relocation by the relocation determination section areperformed in units of battery packs, battery modules, or battery cellsof storage batteries.
 17. The storage battery relocation assistanceapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an input section thatinputs information, and the memory comprising a requirement informationstoring section that stores the requirement information, wherein: therequirement information storing section allows for addition of therequirement information on a new facility inputted through the inputsection; and the relocation determination section determines therelocation schedule when the plurality of storage batteries arerelocated and used among the plurality of facilities including the newfacility.
 18. A storage battery relocation assistance apparatuscomprising: a processor and memory, the processor comprising: acollection section that collects battery information representing astate of a plurality of storage batteries used in a plurality offacilities; and a relocation determination section that determines arelocation schedule including at least a relocation destination when theplurality of storage batteries are relocated and used in the pluralityof facilities, based on the battery information collected by thecollection section and requirement information for a storage battery inthe plurality of facilities.
 19. A storage battery relocation assistancemethod, performed by a storage battery relocation assistance apparatuscomprising a processor having a plurality of sections configured toexecute instructions stored in a memory, the storage battery relocationassistance method comprising the steps of: collecting batteryinformation representing a state of a plurality of storage batteriesused in a plurality of facilities; and predicting deterioration of theplurality of storage batteries when the plurality of storage batteriesare relocated and used among the plurality of facilities, based on thebattery information collected in the collecting step.
 20. The storagebattery relocation assistance method according to claim 19, furthercomprising the step of determining a relocation schedule including atleast a relocation destination when the plurality of storage batteriesare relocated and used in the plurality of facilities, based on aprediction result of the deterioration predicting step and requirementinformation for a storage battery in the plurality of facilities.